Elena Dementieva just needed an hour to dispatch Stephanie Foretz 6-2 6-1 giving Dementieva her 1st win in Oz since 2005. Although she served 6 double faults, she also served 3 aces and 17 winners came from her racket.

I am so relieved that Elena got through the first round. It is usually in the opening rounds where Elena is so vulnerable. Now that she went unscathed in the opening round of the Australian Open, she will try to go a round further when she faces 36th-ranked German, Martina Muller on Wednesday's second-round action. Dementieva leads Muller in career meeting 1-0. Their only match coming from FedCup in 2002. Interestingly, Muller has not gone past the second round of any Grand Slam since 2005. So Muller is probably really hungry right now and she'll take any chance she could get to advance further.

But Elena shouldn't give her a chance. She has a pretty good draw and she must take her chance to reach at least the quarterfinals of the Oz Open. Muller doesn't really have a big game and doesn't have as much experience as Elena. If Elena stays focused and on target, I do not see her falling in this match.